Month: November 2012

It’s interesting to see how downloadable content gets added to a game. Sometimes the entry point to the postlaunch missions are transparent. They’re shown locked away behind closed doors in the game world. Other times, they arrive in a subtle way via an odd email that leads to an investigation and a grand adventure.

With XCOM: Enemy Uknown and its Slingshot DLC, players will have to start from scratch. But that’s not a bad thing when it comes to XCOM, a strategy game where every choice creates a different experience and a new avenue for that just-one-more-turn addiction. The DLC, which will run you $6.99 on PSN/PC and 560 Microsoft Points on Xbox Live, offers players three new story-driven missions focused on a new character named Shaojie Zhang.

Once you start over, the content pops up as council missions. Players can choose to do them at any time, but it’s best to tackle them early because of the rewards involved. In the first mission, players are actually sent to rescue Zhang who is carrying some mysterious gear.

If you asked me about Turtle Beach five years ago, I would have told you that they were a decent maker of audio peripherals. Nothing they produced stood out to me. But that changed with the release of its Ear Force PX5. Those set of cans and all the tech the company packed in them put the maker of audio devices on the map.

More than a year later, what does the company do for an encore?

They’re releasing a new line of headsets forCall of Duty: Black Ops 2, but unlike last year’s versions, they aren’t just branded editions with a few tweaks here and there. The two flagship headsets they’re releasing — Sierra and Tango — come fully loaded with some of the company’s latest tech.

The Wii U launched today, and while you’re waiting in line to get a system or downloading that epic update, you may be wondering what games to get from retailers or the eShop. I’m here to help. I’ve been putting the system through its paces since Nov. 8. I played through bothNew Super Mario Bros. U andNintendo Land. I’ve dabbled in a handful of other games to get the feel of them.

Here’s where I’d rank my top 5 launch games based on the short time with the system.

1. ZombiU — If there’s one game to get during the launch, it’s this one. No other title this side of Nintendo Land shows off what the Wii U can do. But the reason that I put it atop my list is that it’s more cohesive and brims with a creepy atmosphere. It brings back the old-school survival-horror vibe as you play as a London survivor trying to get through the zombiepocalypse.

What’s interesting is that everything takes place in real time. There’s no chance to catch your breath as you wander through deserted streets, scavenge for supplies and pummel enemies to death with a paddle. To ratchet up the pressure, you have one character to get through the game at a time and if you die, you’ll have to start over and kill your zombified old self.

Ubisoft Montpelier also comes up with some inventive ways to play off the dual screens. Players use the GamePad to scan or organize supplies. All the while, they’ll have to be wary of danger that could be lurking nearby. There are also elements of Demon’s Souls with a player-run hint system and intense difficulty.

2. New Super Mario Bros. U – Every Nintendo system has to come out with a Mario game of some sort, and the Wii U is no different. Unlike theGalaxy series though, New Super Mario Bros. U is a throwback. It’s a 2D platformer where Mario, Luigi and two toads have to save the princess through several different worlds.

This edition is huge and sports a hair-pulling amount of difficulty. The game will test the most ardent Mario fan’s skills. But the big equalizer is the Boost Mode that’s employed via the GamePad. It lets the user act in a support role, where they can rescue allies with bricks that they can conjure out of thin air. They can also stun enemies.

The most interesting thing though is that the GamePad player has a different perspective on a level, and they can often spot secrets or hidden items. It forces gamers into actual teamwork though having five players can get chaotic at times.

3. Nintendo Land – If you want an all-around game, you can’t go wrong with this. Built like a theme park, this title has a good mix of single player and group attractions. Minigames such as Yoshi’s Fruit Cart are OK but don’t show off the potential and fun of the system like Balloon Trip or Takamaru’s Ninja Castle.

But the magic in Nintendo Land comes in the competitive play. Attractions like Mario Chase or Animal Crossing: Sweet Day are what the system is built for. The GamePad lets users be the person hiding while the rest of the group searches for him or it lets a user act as the guards hunting for critters stealing candy on a map. If you can get five people to play along this holiday, the experience can be life-changing.

4. Scribblenauts Unlimited – I always felt that the originalScribblenauts on the Nintendo DS was a great idea on the wrong system. The controls were too clumsy and the screen was too small that playing the puzzle game was hard. In this sequel, the developer, 5th Cell, builds more of a narrative around Max and his magical ability to write objects into existence.

The franchise has come along way with a more open world and several playable characters that mixes the title up a bit. But the core gameplay is the same: Max and his siblings will encounter problems and you’ll have to write down words to try to solve them. For example, if a cat is stuck in a tree, you can try writing the word “ladder” to get it down or you could write “fish” and see it drop down to eat it.

The game still has players controlling Max with the analog stick and he can jump, but 5th Cell streamlined everything so that Max can use items more easily and manipulate the world with a tap of the touch-screen.

5. FIFA 13 – I’m not a soccer fan, but this game could make me one. It’s one of the better ports that are out there for the Wii U. The thing that makes it different from all the others though is that EA Canada integrates the GamePad touch-screen into the gameplay. Not everything works perfectly but the thought and effort put into it makes it more than a quick cash-in.

The team planned out how to use the GamePad’s additional functionality and meld it with the gameplay. You can draw run lines for teammates on the touch-screen. You can use the motion controls to call up a new shot system that lets you kick a goal by tapping where in the net to aim for. You can even shuffle through lineups and add new strategies on the fly.

One of the keys to winning over Japan is getting Monster Hunter on your system. Along with Dragon QuestandFinal Fantasy, these are the biggest franchises in the land of the rising sun. Having them on your system usually ensures that it will last its life cycle. I mean Monster Hunter single-handedly made the PlayStation Portable.

And that’s why it was important that Monster Hunter 3 Ultimate is coming to Wii U and Nintendo 3DS. I had a chance to play the latest entry to the series this week. It’s officially not a full sequel but an update to the Monster Hunter Trion the Wii.

The games features 50 percent more content than its predecessor. That translates to 17 new monsters for the West, which includes two that are never seen before. There’s also a second companion named Kayamba to go along with Cha-cha on a single-player quests. If that weren’t enough, old classes such as the dual swords, hunting horn and gun lance return, so there are even more weapons to choose from.

In the lead up to the Nov. 18 launch, I’ll be posting reviews and previews of the games. Keep an eye out for a quick review on “Ninja Gaiden 3″ on Nov. 13 and more coverage of the rest of the titles on Nov. 15.

On-air personnel from CBS 5, The CW 44 (Cable 12), KCBS, 997 Now, Alice @97.3, Live 105 and cbsSF.com are taking action to raise funds for the American Red Cross relief effort in the aftermath of Hurricane Sandy.

On-air personalities and employees from the stations, local officials (San Francisco Mayor Ed Lee, Oakland Mayor Jean Quan, and San Jose Vice Mayor Nguyen are confirmed) and celebrities (Randy Hahn, San Jose Sharks, Al Attles and Warrior Girls, Golden State Warriors, Gold Rush Cheerleader, 49ers, Jason Hernandez, San Jose Earthquakes, and musician Martin Luther are confirmed) and the American Red Cross will staff a phone bankon Thursday,November 8th from 6 a.m. to 7 p.m. to take pledges for the American Red Cross Hurricane Sandy Relief Fund. In addition, CBS 5 Eyewitness News and KCBS All News Radio will have live reports throughout their newscasts.

When Sony released its official Wireless Stereo Headset for the PlayStation 3 in 2011, it was a disappointment. At $99, it presented gamers with the simplest way to pair a set of cans to the console, but the problem was that it didn’t do much else. The device itself was one note and the speakers themselves didn’t sound great. It pushed out the sonic equivalent of mud.

But what a difference a year makes. In September, Sony introduced another set of cans, the PS3 Pulse Wireless Stereo Headset, and the Japanese company nails it. This the device that your ears have been waiting for.

You’ve probably seen the leaked photos, but now it’s official. Rockstar North’sGrand Theft Auto Vis coming out spring 2013. There’s been a lot of speculation about the game since the trailer was released and it looks like we’ll have to wait just a few more months to see if it lives up to the hype. Personally, I think Rockstar North is due and the game will exceed expectations, especially if the series is returning to San Andreas.

Right now, GameStop and others are accepting preorders for the game. The Texas-based retailer is offering a two-sided poster for those who plunk their money down. It’s of the image above and the one on the jump. I figure there’ll be more preorder incentives from other companies and I’m sure there’ll be a special edition. The last one featured a lock box. What do you think a special edition Grand Theft Auto V will have?